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Aviation History
1982
1982 - 0080.PDF
Pave Tack operational on European F-111s RAF Lakenheath—US Air Force F-lllFs on the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing now operate with the Ford Aerospace Pave Tack target-acquisi tion/weapon-aiming pod. Pave Tack, carried in the F-lll's internal weapons bay, is a self-contained pod with forward-looking infrared (Flir) for day/night target acquisition and recognition, and laser designator/ rangefinder for use with guided weapons such as the Maverick missile and GBU-15 glide bomb. Some 50 pods have been earmarked for the 94 F-llls at Lakenheath, and the US Air Force plans to buy 149 Pave Tacks for F-lllFs, F-4Es, and RF-4Cs, although some F-4 pods may be diverted to equip F-lllDs and Es. Each F-111F is equipped with a weapons-bay cradle to accept the 1,3001b Pave Tack pod. The pod is stowed in the bay when not in use, rotating through 180° in 5sec to expose the gimballed sensor head. Once exposed, the sensor head can rotate to cover the complete lower hemisphere, and provides a stabilised platform for the Flir, laser ranger, and laser designator. The stabilised infrared image, annotated with range information and a reticle represent ing the laser designator, is presented on a virtual-image display which replaces the navigator's radar plan position indicator. The new display comprises two CRTs, viewed through a 2X magnifi cation lens. The upper primary dis play is larger than the lower, secon dary CRT. Both displays can present Flir, radar, and weapon imagery. New side and centre consoles mount controls and displays for Pave Tack and its associated weapons. On the low-level run-in to the 78 target, a radar ground map is pre sented on the primary display, allow ing large-scale steering corrections to be made. Within 20,000ft of the target, Pave Tack is activated for more accurate steering information, and the Flir image appears on the lower display. Later in the attack, Flir imagery can be switched to the upper display, allowing radar or weapon-seeker pictures to be pre sented on the secondary CRT. After selecting the correct Flir field of view, the operator slews the reticle on to the target and fires the laser. The aircraft inertial navigation system keeps the laser on target for extended periods, even through manoeuvres, and the navigator has a hand controller to fine-tune laser line of sight. An automatic target tracker is under development. For delivery of a laser-guided bomb, the aircraft central computer initiates a 3g pullup to weapon release. The F-lll then turns away from the target while Pave Tack con tinues to provide laser illumination until bomb impact. The pod is then rotated back into the weapons bay for a clean, supersonic escape from the target area. The attack is recorded on videotape for subsequent bomb- damage assessment. Flight-tests between September 1977 and August 1978 demonstrated F-lllF/Pave Tack's performance. Level, dive, and toss deliveries of GBU-10 and GBU-16 laser-guided bombs were practically direct hits. Tests with unguided iron bombs demonstrated low-level delivery accu racies roughly twice those attainable with radar. Maximum-range toss deliveries were 2-5 times more accu rate. Attacks on targets at unknown Above left Pave Tack in the weapons bay of a Lakenheath F-IIIF, Above right revised cockpit with navigator's virtual-image dis play (with viewing hood). Below Pave Tack cradle concept altitudes proved to be as accurate as bombing runs of targets at known ,, elevations. Tests with the Rockwell GBU-15 < cruciform-wing glide bomb included s. four launches—and four direct hits. Three bombs passed through the ' target van, and the fourth, released 4 at Mach 1 • 4, 22,00'0f t, sank the target ship. Tests with the AGM-65A TV* *> guided Maverick missile included K three launches, two resulting in direct hits, and one breaking lock after f launch because of a missile fault. General Dynamics has completed integration of the F-lllF/Pave Tack < weapon system with the TV-guided, t direct-attack GBU-15, and TV and laser-guided Maverick vaiiaiiu,. XMIIIOT modification will be required to release the laser-guided GBU-15 and the imaging infrared GBU-15 and Maverick. Carriage of the indirect- attack, or stand-off, GBU-15 requires % an underfuselage datalink pod. FLIGHT International, 9 January 1961
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